Tuesday 27 May 2014

I made this crazy thing!

I have just finished quite a unique custom order this week and thought I'd share some pics of the piece.
I was asked to make a bun cover - hair basket and pin out of sterling silver........ I was thinking about it and how Id go about making it but I was also thinking the lady may not come back and its going to be a lot of work and a fair bit of material required for the job so I put off actually starting the work as I had so much other stuff to do with Finders Keepers creeping up.
Anyway, weeks had passed when the lady came back to check on my progress. I explaining  it would be quite a task involving a lot of my time and a lot of silver and that the price of the piece would be quite expensive with all these things considered.
She said, she didn't care, that she really wanted me to make it, that it would become a treasure that she'd hand down to her  granddaughters.
She whipped out $100 to give me incentive to get started and off she went.

This is the original drawing  the customer did to show me what she envisioned.


The finished piece.
I got so carried away in the making process I forgot to take photos along the way.

Modeled by the lovely Rose

.
I found the process so much fun and I actually really like the finished object.
 I know all my work is made with a sculptors eye (and hands) but it was working in a definite three dimensional sense that I really relished.
The hair basket and pin has a real sense or permanence, in that it will become a family heirloom.
Today I'm going to ring the lady and tell her her treasure is finished.
I hope she likes it.

Sunday 18 May 2014

A day in the life.......






With the Sydney Finders Keepers Market fast  approaching I've been in frantic production mode, making like a mad woman!
I've been allocated a debut stall which is only small, 1.5meters  x 1.5meters, usual markets stalls are about 3x3, so I've had to rethink my display and come up with a few smaller display boxes and hanging systems.
Having a smaller space will make my stall look fuller I guess, and I can store excess pieces under my table to top up as needed throughout the day.
Im really looking forward to this event and I imagine if I get time Ill be shopping up a storm as there is going to be so many beautiful things to buy.
The markets are on Friday night and Saturday 6-7th June.
You can find the details here.......


Anyway, I thought I'd take you through a pictorial view of a day in the life at the studio as I work on some Finders Keepers goodies......
Last week it was recycled sterling silver bangles........

First step, annealing the silver to soften it and keep it from springing out of shape when I go to solder it.
Note, the odd shapes, its more about making sure you have a nice join for soldering the two ends together.
The shaping comes later.



Soldering the ends together with my gas torch and silver solder.

Pickling the bangles, this removes the fire scale and I also use this as a way of cooling the silver for the next step.
I use salt and vinegar pickle as I dont like to use chemical agents, its probably not quite as effective, but it does work.
Although its a bit harsh on my tools and is rust waiting to happen, especially when I forget to put the lid on it!


Filing the join.


Shaping the Bangle.


Texturing the bangles with different marks.

A few finished bangles, ready to go into the tumbler to harden the silver back up and to shine them.



See you in Sydney!!!